Tenting Tonight

by: Matthew Mickletz

I can blatantly state that I am not a truly hardcore reenactor. I consider myself a progressive reenactor at this time and hope to put together an “authentic as you can get”, aka hardcore, impression in the future. Like my dad says, “If I’m going to do something, I’m going to do it right!”

I have read several articles regarding the subject of how the soldiers slept. There are plenty of letters confirming these articles and tell the way it really was done. All reenactors know, or should know anyway, that each Federal soldier was issued one tent half, not two and not an “A-frame” tent per person. This is what they were given and this is what they had to make do with.

Imagine yourself now as a Federal soldier. You just marched several miles today. What two things are on your mind? “I’m tired and I’m hungry!” probably. You’d pull out the moldy hardtack, if you had any, boil the coffee and chow down on that and whatever else you might have in your haversack. Then stomach full, half-full, or empty, you’d throw down your rubber blanket or tent half, or both and lie down. You’d cover up with a wool blanket, unless it was a warm night, close your eyes and dream of home. You’ll probably be up by 6 or earlier depending on what you are needed for in the morning.

Side note: Hey how bout that! I didn’t mention tent poles, beef jerky, beef stew in a can, getting changed into pajamas, lanterns, setting up the “A” tents or the iron tent spikes and no hay or straw! All of these things listed were things I thought were the norm for reenactors, when I first started. Not to mention the unlined sack coats, grommets on tents and “tent cities” every night you slept. Some of these things I was told was authentic others were assumed were OK because I was never corrected.

So what is “correct sleeping” on the march. What you used to sleep on and cover you were what you used to get a “comfortable” night’s sleep, plain and simple. The situation and methods of just getting as comfortable as possible could be as I had described earlier and could differ in many ways, depending on the need for warmth and the weather. You can read about different ways on The Authentic Campaigner website. I really don’t see a need to retell what others have done quite well. Please visit that site and the other organizations Mr. Calloway has listed, sites to get some great info! What I have learned from my reading is to use what they would have had to use to sleep comfortably, or not so comfortably: a rubberized blanket (rarely for the Federal army, tarred ground cloth), a wool blanket or two, tent half and their uniform, which could include a great coat in winter. Whatever they carried on their backs. Not sleeping bags or pillows or even hay or straw!

To narrow it down, I want to share my opinions on the tent half and its use. The tent half could of course be buttoned together with another half and thrown over a ridge pole (horizontal) supported by two other upright (vertical) poles. I’ve read that phrase quite a few times in letters, etc. – to “throw it over the pole and secure it at the corners”.

Let’s look at the above method, which is the most wildly used (almost too widely used?) method among reenactors. Well you need trees to start, for their “Y” vertical branches and ridge pole. Many reenactors know to just “throw it over” seems impossible. Not if you shrpen the ends and burrow them in the ground. I did this several times for living histories and small events, of course, it works great, stood up to wind and rain. Doesn’t that make more sense than setting a flat-ended branch on the ground? Then it settles in or a slight wind blows and falls down and you have to set it up, again!

The second method is to do the inverted muskets and string. For reenactors, I don’t suggest it for living histories or long term camping events, for the sake of the bayonet and need of the musket. Don’t let me stop you from trying it, but don’t hold me accountable for bent Indian bayonets! It’s a straightforward method: Put the bayonet on the muskets. Invert the rifles. Stick them into the ground the width of the tent apart. Tie a string on the trigger guards. Drape tent halves over and secure at corners, with pegs. (Iron pegs? - Article to come)

Then we come to the “shebangs”, my favorite. Many of you have probably seen the photos of the pine tree branch shelter areas, a bit taller than a man, probably meant more for relaxation areas; hence the officers playing poker beneath them, or eating. Not really an ideal sleeping spot. I have yet to try lying branches against a tree or trench then layering braches on top, also seen in photos and drawings. I will update this article if I do!

However, the most comfortable I’ve made with one tent half, were low to the ground and/or on a slant. Not the perfect triangle - /\ - so commonly seen at the “mega events”. Being low keeps the wind from toppling it like a book on end. It also seemed to keep the heat closer to my body also. Even though the canvas isn’t thick, it still does a little good.

When I say, “on a slant” usually a tree or two is involved or small branches to raise it above the ground two feet or so, enough to crawl in. You can string a hemp twine from one tree to another, just as with the rifles, and throw the two halves together over or one half on a slant. Tie the one end utilizing the button-holes and more twine to fasten it to the twine from tree to tree. Then pegging the other side down.

Last but not least, the rap up method, very straight forward. Rap your wool blanket around you, then your gum blanket, then your tent half. Yes, your tent! Why not? Or the tent then gum blanket, for rainy or cold weather. The layering varies with the weather, of course. Probably the most widely used method besides just laying your blankets etc. down, resting your head on your cartridge box and zonking out.

Til we gather round the fire again!

I remain YOS and comrade